Two contemporary Chickasaw artists, Brent Greenwood and Natasha Wagner, will be featured at the McSwain Theatre Art Gallery's inaugural exhibit, "Chikashsha Holba Himitta Ikbi (Contemporary Chickasaw Art)."

The show opens on Saturday, July 25 and will run until August 8 at the McSwain Theatre, located at 103 W. Main in Ada, Okla.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

A meet-and-greet reception will be conducted at the gallery from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26.

Brent Greenwood's acrylic paintings derive their subject matter from both historical and current cultural events. In his work, Greenwood draws inspiration from pop art and abstract expressionism and uses "faceless personalities" to allow the viewer to draw out their own interpretation of the subject's characteristics.

His art is also a statement on the struggles that face and have faced Native American people.

"The plight of our people is well documented," he said. "Sometimes my art reflects that; sometimes it's witty in its representation of current icons and stereotypes."

Greenwood lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Natasha Wagner is currently a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Her work is a culmination and expression of her unique personal life experiences and she strives to connect with and challenge viewers.

"I want to discuss multi-racial people and the historical and contemporary issues they face," she said. "I also explore traditional Native concepts and challenge the status quo of society's Native perspective."

For more information, contact Mark Milligan, Coordinator of Exhibits and Galleries at (580) 272-5520.